davis



Aug. 14, 1923.

C. E. DAVIS APPARATUS Fon HANDLING Loose. MATERIAL Filed April '7, 1919 6 Sheets-#Sham 1 Aug. 14, 1923. 1,464,521

c. E. DAVIS APPARATUS Fon HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed April 7, 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1111 W E@ Huw il* W 111 l* 1,

Aug. 14, 1923. 1,464,521

' c. E.. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Anril 7, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug; 14, 1923. 1,464,521

` C. E. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed April 7, 1919 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 14, 1923.

C. E. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOGSE MATERIAL Filed April 7, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 14, 1923.

C. E. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING Loose: MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 7 1919 Patented Aug. 14, 19723.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DAVIS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL.

Application med April '7, 1919. Serial No. 288,089.

To all whom it 'm concern.'

Be it known t at I, CHARLES n. Davis,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate 6 of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful 11n rovement in Apparatus for `Handling ose Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling loose material and has among other objects to provide a new and improved apparatus of this description for moving loose material from one point to another by means of a scraper and for actuating, guiding and controlling the scraper, and is particularly adapted to be used in moving coal from the room in a mine to the entry or passageway communicating therewith or to any oth desired point.

Referring now to the accompanying draw- Fig. l is aoglan view showing one construction emb ying the invention;

Fig; 2 is a view of the scraper;

Fig. 3 is a view of the guide;

Fig. 4 is e plan view of the controlling mechanism for 'the control line;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 4;

' Fig. 6V is a vlew in part section of the drums illustrated in Fig. 4;

.Figa 7 is a. plan view of one from of winding device for the head and tail lines of the scraper;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the winding device of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing one form of clutch for the winding device.

Fi 10 is a view in part section showing one crm of clutch.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a horizontal section through a mine wherein is illustrated i5 a plan view of one form of apparatus cmbodying my invention. This ligure illustrates one of the common mining construcltions, wherein there is an entry or passageway 1 along which are a series of rooms 2, 3, etc., from which the coal is mined, and which rooms communicate with the main passageway, the cars for carrying the coal from these rooms running on a suitable track in the passa way. The apparatus is 55 set to operate un er the conditions where the coal is mined from the face 4 of the room, such coal being shot down or otherwise removed from the face and broken up so as to be ready to he removed from the room.

In the construction illustrated I provide n motor device for acting upon the head and tail lines of the scraper to move the latter reci procably between the working face and the entry. The particular motor device illustrated is a winding device 5 which maybe of any suitable construction such as the ordinary winch. This device is illustrated in Figs. 7i to 10 and consists of two drums 6 and 7 about which portions of the head and t-ail lines of the scraper are f Wound. The drums are actuated by a suitable motor 8 which. may be of any form or construction. I have illustrated this motor `as an electric motor controlled hy a controller 8H. llVhen an electric motor is used I may provide a storage battery 8' althou Yh the current ma he erived from any esired source. his motor drives the shafts of the drums 6 and 7 through any desired intermediate mechanism. As shown the motor drives a short shaft 8" provided with a pinion 8 which drives a gear 8" on the shaft 7 of the drum 7, and the Vear 8d drives the gear 8 on the shaft 6 of the drum 6.

It will thus be seen that the shafts of the drums 6 and 7 are rotated in opposite directions. These drums are normally disconnected from their associated shafts, but are provided with suitable clutch mechanisms so that the may he connected with the shafts when esrcd. In Fig. 9 I have shown one form of clutch mechanism Wherein a handle 9 is ivoted to a suitable stationary part, and is connected with a sliding sleeve 10 on the drum shaft. This sliding sleeve rotates with the shaft and is connested by the parts 11 and 11l with the friction clutch member 12, adapted to engage the inner face of the flange 12* on the drum. There`is also provided a braking lever 12" which is pivoted at 12c and which has a member 12d which engages the outside of the flange 12'x when the brake is oi. It will be seen that by moving the lever 9 in one direction the sleeve 10 is slid so as to straighten out the members 11 and 11* and set the friction brake to cause the drum to rotate with its associated shaft. This movement also rocks the lever 12" about the lever 12E so as to release the brake. By moving the lever in the opposi direction the clutch is released and the brake set. The clutch and brake mechanisms for the' two drums are similar and l' have therefore only illustrated one in detail.

The drums 6 and 7 control the head and tail lines or cables for the scraper. A single cable may be used which passes around a direction changing device 14 near the wall 4 of the mine room. I haw: illustrated it as having the two branches or sections 15 and 16, the branch or section 15 being connected to the front of the scraper 17 and forming the load pulling section or head line which pulls the loaded scraper to its point of discharge, the other branch being connected to the rear end of the scraper and forming the retracting section or tail line which pulls the scraper back to its initial position.

Tiis tail line passes around thc direction changing device 14, there being preferably a pulley over which it passes to reduce the friction. The head line 15 is wound around .one drum, say the drum 7, and the tail line 16 is wound around the other drum. the drum 6, the arrangement Vbeing such that when the drum 7 is rotated the head line l5 ls wound thereon` the tail line 16 being unwound from the drum G. which drum under this condition is disconnected from the driving shaft. When the drum 6 is connected to the driving shaft so as to be rotated. the tail line 16 is wound thereon and the head line l is unwound from the drum 7.

t will thus be seen that the winding power of one drum produces the unwinding of the other drum. The head line passes about a direction changing device 18 near the point where the walls 4 and 19 of the mine meet, which direction changing device may be a pulley.

When the device is in use the scraper 17 is moved to the osition shown in full lines in Fig. l. The nose coal is now lving near the wall 4, and the scraper must e moved along the wall 19 so as to engage some of this coal and become filled with it. and then its direction must he changed so that it will mm'e toward the passageway 1. The direction of the scraper cannot he abruptly changed, for otherwise the scraper will tin over or otherwise act so as to lose part or all of the coal, and so n gradual turn must be secured.

In order to produce this gradual turn. I provide a control line which in the present instance consists of two branches or sections 20 and 2l. The section 20 passes about a direction changing device 22 ocated near a point where the wall 4 and lll of the room moet and is connected with the direction :changing device 18 engaged hy the head line 15 of. the actuating line. The direction changin device 22 may comprise a pulley about w lich the line 20 may pass. The line 2O also passes about a direction changing device 23 located at a distant point, prefer- ',ably in or near the passageway I, or in or .near the point where the scraper is to discharge its material. This line is controlled by suitable means so as to be aid out or pulled in as desired to change t e course of movement of the scraper. In the present instance the controlling means comprises the branch 21 of the control line, which is ab tached to the scraper 17 or to some part connected therewith. A controlling device or mechanism y20* is associated with the control line for controlling its movement `thisfcon trolled mechanism arranged so that a control line can he held against movement when desired, and then can be moved or permitted to move to any degree or amonntdesired. in the arrangement illustrated the control ling device is placed in a break through or passageway at one side of the room, but it may he placed in any other convenient place. as desiied.

Any suitable device for controlling the control line may be used and for purposes of illustration l have shown a drum and brake arrangement (see Fi rs. 4. 5 and (l). In this construction l provi( e two drums 24 and 25. The section 20 of the control line passes around an elongated pulley 25'* and a por tion thereof is wound in one direction around drum 24. Another portion of the control line is wound in the opposite direction around the drum 25 and then said oontrol line passesabout the pulley 25,

lt will thuslhe seen that when pressure is applied to the control line in either direction, the drums 24 and 25 will be rotated. one unwinding and the other winding thereby permitting the control line to move without varying its length. The movement of this control line is controlled h a, brake on the drums. This is illustrator as an ordinary band brake having a band 24* which passes about a brake wheel 24" located between the two drums and connected to one of them such as the drum 25. This hrake hand is connected at one end to a fixed part Q# the other end being connected to the pivoted lever 26. It will thus be seen that when the lever is moved in one direction the hand will he tightened to slow down or prevent the rotation of the drums. and when moved in the other direction the band will he loosened to permit the rotation of the drums The two drums are ndjustahly connected together in any desired manner, such as by menus of a pin 25. there being a series of holes 25 connected with said drums through which the pin may be inserted. When it is desired to lengthen or ahorn-,utile control' line this pin is removed and one of the drums is rotated to wind or unwind a portion of the surplus material thereof to secure the d`e sired adjustment and length of the control line. When the pro r length is secured the.

trated in Fig. 1 gbr example, and it is desired to fill the scraper with coal, the drum 'i' is rotated and the controlling mechanism held to prevent movementof the section 20 of the control line, Thiais done by tightening the brake band 24. "The scraper'is now' moved along the wall 4 toward the wall 19, the head line 15 of the line moving about the direction changing device 18.

When the scraper is full of material and it is desired ip turn it toward the passageway 1, the brake lever 26 is moved the proper amount to guiliciently release the drums and the pull on the direction changing device 18, due to the ull on the head lines, causes this direction c anging device to move and increas'e the distance between it and the `direction changing device 22, thus permitting the head line 15 of the actuating line to move bodily away from the direction changing device 22, so as to vary the angle between its two branches on o posite sides of the direction changing device 18, and thus grada ally turn the scraper 17 toward the passagewaly 1.

have shown in dotted lines certain posi,- tions of the scraper, and the lines during this movement.

After the direction of the scraper is changed, the continued winding of the drum 7 pulls the scraper toward the passageway 1. The complete control of the scraper in this direction may be secured by a proper manipulation of the brake lever 26. I prefer, however, to rovide a guide 27 which is positioned in tiie room at a. distance from the walls 4 and 19 so as to restrict the movement of the scraper to a relatively narrow assageway along one side of the room. his is usuall desirable under the mining conditions ilustrated, because the major portion of the room, such as herein show n, the left and central portions of the room, 2 and 3, are usually occupied b v mine props, or are used as a depository for slate, rock or the like which is separated from the coal before loading out of the room. This guide 2 may be of any suitable form and which may be held in position by suitable jacks engaging the oof of the mine and which is arranged so t at the scraper or a. portion of the head line 16 be brought against it,

tail line 16 of the scraper line.

thus guiding device is prefided b it. This gu y a curved portion 28 erably provided wit to facilltate its action.

, When the scraper nears the end of its movement it slides upon an inclined surface or plate 29 which rests upon the top of a car 30, and when the scraper is brought to the end of this plate, the material is discharged into the car as the scraper is open at the bottom.

After the material is discharged from the scraper it is retracted to its initial position. 'Izhis is accomplished by winding up the This pulls the scraper back' along il different path than that traveled by it in its forward movement. Durin a portionof this backward travel, the tai line 16 of the line engages the guide 27. After the scraper is moved apart ofr its distance toward its retracted osition the scraper itself Aengages this gui e, and then for the remainder of the movement the section 21 of the control line engages the guide. As the scraper is moved to its initial or retracted position the control line and the movable direction changing device L8 are moved` During the latter part of t retracting movement of the scraper it is turned to face the wall 19 and the direction changing device 18 is moved into proximity to the direction changing device 22 and the4 vhead line 15 of the actuating line for the sera it to its discharge position, this movement' bein produced as hereinbefore set out by win ing up the head line 15 of the scraper, and suitably controlling or manipulating the control line.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying the invention but it is ofcourse evident that the construction may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims hereto attached and I therefore do not limit myself to the construction shown.

1. A device fordiandling loose material comprising a. scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said scraper` means for exerting a, pull upon said head and tail lines to move said scraper reciprocably, a direction changing device for the tail line, a movable direction changing device engagingthe head line for changing the direction of movement of the scraper and movable with the latter during a portion of iio its reci procahle movement, and a controlling mechanism for said movable direction changing device.

2. A evice for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line'connected with said sera ier, a motor device for acting upon said hea( and tail lines to move said scraper reciprocabl a direction changing device for the tail ine, a movable direction changing device engaging the head line and movable with said scraper during a portion of its reci rocable movement, and a controlling mec nism for said movable direction changing device.

3. A. device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a `tail line connected with said scraper, ineann for exerting a pull upon said head and tail lines to move said scraper reciprocably, a direction changing device for the tail line a movable direction changing device for changing the direction of movement of the scraper while being acted upon by the head line, and means responsive to the pull on said head line for moving said movable direction changing device as the scraper is moved, so as to gradually turn said scraper toward its point of discharge.

4. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said sci-a r, a motor device connected with said hea md tall lines so as to act thereupon to move said scra r reciprocably, a direction changing device for the tail lme, a mov-A able direction changing device for changing the direction of movement of the scraper while being acted upon by the head line, and means ive to said motor device for moving said direction changing device as the scraper is moved so as to gradually turn lsaid scraper towards its point of disicharge 5. A 'levice for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a headline connected therewith, a tail line connected with laid scraper, means for exerting a pull upon said headand tail lines to move said scraper rcciprocably, a direction changing device for the tail line, a movable direction changing device engaging said head linc for changing the direction of the movement of the scraper and movable with the latter during a pon tion of its reciprocable movement, and a cnntrol line connected with said movable direcr'on changing device for controlling its position. Y

6. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith,` a tail line connected with said scra r, means for exerting a pull upon said h and tail lines to move said scraper reciprocably, a direc-tion changing device for forming the tail line, a movable direction changing device engagin the direction o the movement of the scraper and movable with the latter during a portion of its reciprocable movement, a control line connected with said movable direction changing device for controlling its itioii and a controlling device for control ing said control line.

7. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said sera r, a motor device for acting upon said hea and tail lines to move said sc per, said head and tail lines and motor device forming an actuating system for the scraper, a control line connected in said actuating slystem at separated points for controlling t ie movement of said scraper during a portion of the time the scraper is being acted upon by said head line.

H. A device for handling loose material v comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said scra r, a motor device for acting upon said hea and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device forming an actuating system for the scraper,l a control line connected in said actuating system at separated points for lcontrolling the movement of said scraper during a portion of the time the scraper ia being acted upon by said head line, and a controlling device for controlling the movement'of said control line.

i 9. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said scra ier, a motor device for acting upon said hea( and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device forming an actuating system for the scraper. a control line connected in said actuating system at separated oints for controlling the movement of said scraper during a portion of the time the scraper is being acted upon by said head line. and a controlling device for controlling the movement of said control line. and means associated with said control line for incr-casing or shortening its lenAtgh.

lfl. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper. a head line connected therewith. a tail line connected with said scraper, a mol or device for acting upon said hear and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device an actuating system for the scraper, a control line connected in said actuating system at separated poiifts for controlling the movement of sind scraper during a portion of the time the scraper is heing acted upon by said head line, a brake mechanism connected with said control line for controlling the movement thereof.

said head line for changing 11. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, ahead line connected therewith, a tail line connected With said scra er, a motor device for acting upon said hea and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device forming an actuating system for the scraper, a control line connected in said actuating sys tem at separated points for controlling the movement of said scraper during la portion of the time the scraper is being acted upon by said head line, two drums associated with said control line about which portions of the control line are wound, said drums normally connected, to rotate together, and means ,for disconnecting said drums so that either one may be rotated separately to increase or decrease the length of the portion of the control line thereon.

12. A device for handlin loose material comprising a scraper, a hea line connected therewith, a tail line connected with said scra er, a motor device for acting upon said hea and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device forming an actuating system for the scraper, a control line connected in said actuating system at separated points for controlling the movement of said scraper during a portion of the time the scraper is being acted upon by said head line, two drums associated with said controlline about which portions of the control line are Wound, said drums normally connected to rotate together, and means for disconnecting said drums so that either one may berotated separately to increase or decrease the length of the portion of fhescontrol line thereon, and a brake mechanism associated with said drums for controlling the movement thereof.

13. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a-tail line connected with Said scra per, a motor device for acting upon said head and tail lines to move said scraper, said head and tail lines and motor device therewith, a tail line connected with said scraper, means for exerting a pull upon said head and tail lines to move said scraper recipx-ocably, a control line, a direction changing device for the control line, a second di rection changing device connected with the free ends of the control line and engaging the head line in all positions of the latter, and means for slackening the control line to vary the position of the said second direction changing device to facilitate the tornino of the scraper as it moves.

15. device for handlin loose material comprising a scra er, a hea line connected therewith, a4 tail ine connected with said scra er, means for exerting a pull upon said hea and tail lines to mo e said scraper, reciprocably a direction changing device engaging the head line of the scraper and movable with the latter during a portion of its reciprocable movement, a control line with which said direction changing device is conncted and which controls its position, said control line adapted to be payed out to permit the direction changing device to move to various positions.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the resence of two witnesses this 24th day of arch 1919.

Inma M. LINBNAU, DDNALD M. CARTER. 

